At my last maintenance (32K), the dealer was recommending changing the transfer case fluid but all I see in the maintenance schedule is inspecting it. Is this another unnecessary maintenance item they are trying to sell or is it a good idea to change it out? Cost was around $100 IIRC.

A service maintenance schedule should have come with your jeep. If you want to be covered under a factory warranty, then you must follow the service maintenance schedule.
If you have a failure at some point and you didn't follow the service maintenance schedule because the fluid looked fine, good luck arguing for a free repair.

Now if you aren't due for a fluid change for another 1000 miles, but you did some off-roading and got water in your transfer case, then yeah, change it right away.

A service maintenance schedule should have come with your jeep. If you want to be covered under a factory warranty, then you must follow the service maintenance schedule.
If you have a failure at some point and you didn't follow the service maintenance schedule because the fluid looked fine, good luck arguing for a free repair.

Now if you aren't due for a fluid change for another 1000 miles, but you did some off-roading and got water in your transfer case, then yeah, change it right away.

The maintenance schedule says to inspect the fluid but the dealer is just pushing for changing it, they say it's recommended to change at 30K miles (there is no 30K mile maintenance in the owner's manual). I did not see anything in the schedule about changing the fluid.

Maybe the dealer knows something about the vehicle from experience.
For $100 I would take his advise rather then have that part fail.
30,000 miles sounds reasonable. Its not like their trying to get you to change the cabin air-filter, now that's the BS charge up...lol

Maybe the dealer knows something about the vehicle from experience.
For $100 I would take his advise rather then have that part fail.
30,000 miles sounds reasonable. Its not like their trying to get you to change the cabin air-filter, now that's the BS charge up...lol

Got sucked into that one at the last service...

The air filter should be changed at 32K but I plan on just buying that myself. Any aftermarket ones available that are as good or better than the OEM filter?

Will double check on the cost and get the fluid changed when it goes back in for a few warranty repairs that they just had to order parts for.

Maybe the dealer knows something about the vehicle from experience. For $100 I would take his advise rather then have that part fail. 30,000 miles sounds reasonable. Its not like their trying to get you to change the cabin air-filter, now that's the BS charge up...lol

No 30,000 miles is unreasonable even if you are 100% severe duty. Maybe the dealer is just trying to grab some extra cash to keep the shop open. These transfer cases are not unique to Jeep, they are used in Cheby trucks among others.

Follow the operator manual's instruction, which is like 128,000 miles unless you are using the Jeep as a taxi.

If you routinely ford streams, you should check often for water contamination. Those with QTII will need service sometime as clutch wear will eventually use up the friction modifiers and contaminate the oil. Those with QTI shouldn't ever worry unless the case is leaking.

The maintenance schedule says to inspect the fluid but the dealer is just pushing for changing it, they say it's recommended to change at 30K miles (there is no 30K mile maintenance in the owner's manual). I did not see anything in the schedule about changing the fluid.

Sounds like you answered your own (original) question. "Inspect" does not equal "Change".
With a transfer case (like a differential), inspection usually means pulling the fill plug, sticking your finger in and giving the fluid a visual and sniff test, looking for obvious sign of water contamination, metal bits etc.
In theory a dealer should know what to look for during the inspection and show you what he finds if you are concerned about being raped. My experience is that if they are any concerns with the fluid, they will ask that the fluid be changed.
I cannot comment as to if you "decline" their recommendation and then you have a failure in the near future. Would they point at the last recommendation and then deny your warranty claim? I cannot say.

I cannot comment as to if you "decline" their recommendation and then you have a failure in the near future. Would they point at the last recommendation and then deny your warranty claim? I cannot say.

How can they dispute a claim if the factory maintenance schedule was followed and I just had it inspected?

Hate these differences...with my Volvo dealer they just pretty much stick to the maintenance schedule. Of course Volvo is paying for the first 60K of maintenance which is most likely the reason.